Dental Evaluation
The first step in the Invisalign®️ process is to have one of our dentists at Woodbridge Comfort Dental Care check your teeth to find out if you qualify for clear aligners. Thanks to improved technology, the aligners can correct more problems than ever before, including:
- Misaligned bites
- Crooked teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Gaps in teeth
If our dentist determines that Invisalign®️ will work for you, we will take x-rays, photos, and impressions of your teeth and send them to the Invisalign lab. Once the lab receives your information, they will make a 3D model of your teeth and a computer model showing how the aligners will straighten your teeth. You’ll review this with your dentist as part of your treatment plan.
Making the Aligner Trays
Once the Invisalign treatment plan is approved, the lab makes the aligners out of a clear plastic material that doesn’t contain BPA, BPS, latex, or gluten. It takes about four weeks before they will arrive at our Woodbridge dental office. Once they arrive, we will call you to fit the first trays and answer any questions you have so that you can take the rest of them home to begin your Invisalign treatment.
How Often are the Trays Changed?
Each aligner is worn 22 to 24 hours a day. You can take them out to eat, brush your teeth, and play sports. Our dentists near you in Woodbridge will instruct you to wear your aligners for one to two weeks before changing them for a new set of trays.
Each aligner tray moves your teeth about 1/10mm before you need to switch to the next set of trays. When it is time to switch, one of our dentists at Woodbridge Comfort Dental Care will evaluate your teeth. If your teeth have moved as needed, we will provide you with your next tray, but some patients may need to repeat the last set if your teeth didn’t move into the proper position.
Maintaining Your New Smile
Once your teeth are corrected, you will need to wear retainers to ensure they stay in this new position. Our dentists at Woodbridge Comfort Dental Care in Woodbridge will give you all of the necessary aftercare instructions to ensure your new smile stays in place for the rest of your life.